TV legend ‘Parky’ among SHU honorary doctorates

Legendary television presenter Sir Michael Parkinson is the latest name to accept an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University at graduation next month.

Sir Michael, affectionately known as Parky, is an iconic TV broadcaster, interviewer and presenter with a career spanning more than fifty years. He is the latest name to accept the honour following the announcements of Louis Theroux and the creators of Everyone’s Talking About Jamie earlier this week.

Born near Barnsley, he has been described by The Guardian as ‘the great British talkshow host’, mainly due to his programme Parkinson, where Sir Michael interviewed stars of stage and screen between 1971 and 1982 and again between 1998 and 2007.

Parkinson was voted in the top ten in a British Film Institute poll of the Best Television Programmes of All Time. The show ran for over 800 episodes and Michael interviewed more than 2,000 of the world’s most famous people during its run.

He was awarded a CBE in June 2000 and a knighthood for services to broadcasting in the 2008 New Year’s Honours list.

During his career, Sir Michael has also presented dozens of radio programmes, continued to write newspaper columns and has also penned a series of children’s books.

Upon accepting his honorary doctorate, Sir Michael said: “I am honoured and delighted to receive an honorary degree from a university with such a high reputation. I thank everyone concerned.”

Sir Michael will receive his honorary doctorate on 16 November alongside students graduating from the University’s Faculty of Science, Technology and Arts.